Nevada County picayune., 1887-01-19
man has a headache"

way
 For Blanche was resolute in in- sisting that the guitar should he l put away. and so the two pretty girls went grumblrng to bed.
 What do you thinkw exclaimed Sophie, coming in the next morn ing, dripping and radiant from her bath. "Old 40 is sick! The doc. ltor was there half an hour ago, and just saw the walters carrying in ice for his head!'
 "Some horrid fever." cried The resa, turning pale. ''I mean to change to some other hotel at once. where is Blache? Why, she's gone I declare! How provoking, when we are in hurry to decide upon the matterW ! It was more than an hour before Blanche returned, and at length when she entered the room The resa and Sophie were half done the task of packing their trunks.
 'Blanche." cried the former, pc tnlantly. "where have you been"
 ''In the next room, with a sick old gentleman, doing my best to narse him.,
 "Blanchew shrieked Theresa.
 "Well!' was the calm reply.
 "Are you mady' cried both the girls in chorus. ! "No-only human. If it was my father" added Blanche, courage ously, 'do you think l should want him to lie alone and unattended ln hotel like this?" Let him send for his friends, ' said Theresa, sullenly. 1 s.Who can tell who and where they are"
 "Search his trunk. .bai's inc way. You act ike so many ioois!" said Sophie. sharply.
 Il suppose they will do so if he does not get better soon. In the meantime, he needs a daughter E care-and the memory of my own dear, dead father prompts me to ! the mission"
 "Bianche, you arc crazy! cried out Miss Dean. "What do you suppose Mir. Archfield would say to your risking your life thus"'
 "I do not think there is any risk" said Blanche, calmly. "Moreover. l believe Guy wOnld bid me do my duty at any and all hazards
 "l'm glad my sense of duty isn't quite so superfne," said Theresa, scornfully. "You can do as you please, but Sophie and intend re moving at once to the Mermaid house."
 And if you are sensible you will do the same," added Miss Dean.
 But Blanche shook her head.
 "No," she said, quietly; Il have made up my mind"
 "Well. then," said Sophie, ''l wish old Snuff Color would die and be done with it, for it won't be half so pleasant without you, Blanche"
 "Old Snuff Color," however, as Sophie irrevcrentlv termed him, did not die. On the contrary, at. ter that one day of peril the scales of chance seemed to turn in his favor, and permanent recovery sat in,
 My dear,' said he to Blanche Fol,et, 'l have much to thank you for. Before yesterday l never knew the soft touch of dangh. ter's footsteps around my bedside. Nor shall l consent to part with them now. l mean to keep you al ways, my child"
 Blanche colored and started at these incomprehensible words.'
 "Does he mean to adopt meH' she asked herself "Or--no, sure k, that cannot he possible he Is going to propose 70 me-" But the old gentieman's next sentence completely solved the riddle.
 "FOr l do not think you have once suspected," he added with a quiet smile, that all your secret charitable offices have been ron dered to-Guy Archiields fath- eri'
 Blanche was more frightened than ever. Surely the old man was insane.
 .M, Archfiald Sr is in Eu